Southport, NC - Where History Lives in a Southern Seaport

A friendly seaside city near the entrance of the Cape Fear River, approximately halfway between Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Southport offers small-town charm, breathtaking views, a storied history, an abundance of unique shopping and dining and inviting tree-lined streets. It has enchanted and delighted residents and visitors for more than 200 years, and its culture and traditions continue to thrive.

A walking tour of this historic area showcases wonderfully restored churches, homes and landmarks such as City Hall, the quaint two-cell Old Brunswick Jail, the Old Smithville Burial Grounds, and the River Pilots Tower, where parts of the TV series “Under the Dome” are shot. The Fort Johnston-Southport Museum & Visitors’ Center is an excellent resource for info on the vicinity.

Southport Pier & Riverwalk is a popular destination for both tourists and locals, with a wide walkway along the Cape Fear River and the yacht basin. Saltwater fishing spots dot the area, and it’s a great place to spot ibis, raptors, terns, and other wildlife. The adjacent nine-acre Southport Waterfront Park features benches and swings with spectacular water and barrier-island views, a gazebo, a water fountain, lights for evening visits and seasonal vendors.

Dozens of eclectic restaurants, refectories, galleries, and boutiques beckon, with the largest concentration of them along Howe Street. This picturesque setting has been the backdrop for numerous movies and TV productions, including “A Walk to Remember”, “Crimes of the Heart”, “The Secret Life of Bees” and “Safe Haven”.

Events in Southport, North Carolina

Things to See & Do

North Carolina Maritime Museum at Southport – This museum is one of three maritime museums sponsored by the state North Carolina that lies along the eastern portion of NC. The Southport branch focuses on the maritime history of the lower Cape Fear River, and contains a detailed and fascinating collection that covers shipwrecks, piracy, the Civil War, commercial fishing, hurricanes and a number of other natural and man-made events that have left a permanent mark on the North Carolina coast.

Oak Island Light – One of the newest lighthouses in the US, is located in the town of Caswell Beach, NC, just 9 miles from Southport. It features four 2.5 million candlepower aerobeacon lenses which produce four, one-second bursts of light every ten seconds. Tours are available June – August.

Kayak Tour/Rentals – Whether you are a beginner, intermediate, or experienced kayaker you will enjoy the unique and dynamic coastal environment as you kayak through miles of quiet marshes, estuaries, black water rivers and Cypress swamps. Enjoy the serenity of a leisurely paddle meandering through calm salt marsh creeks or among ancient Bald Cypress trees. No experience is necessary, tours or rentals are available.

Historical Southport Bike Tour – Enjoy peddling through the Live Oak canopied streets of Southport, along the Historical waterfront and the Cape Fear River, past Fort Johnson, the Brunswick Inn, the Old Brunswick Jail, Smithville Burying grounds, Indian Trail Tree and many more sites. Enjoy some local history and cycling, it’s a perfect way to spend a couple of hours.